Command Chief Master Sergeant Sonja Williams is the new senior enlisted leader of the United States Air Force 174th Attack Wing. She is the first woman to serve in this role.

“I am very honored to be the first female and I’m very honored to break that glass ceiling and let the female airmen at this base know that you too can be in this position," said Williams.

Williams began training as an airman when she was 30. She says most people enter training at 17 or 18. Williams has dedicated 25 years of her career to the 174th Attack Wing, serving in many roles during that time.

Williams says representation matters, and that her serving in this role can impact future airmen to believe they can achieve a high rank like hers.

“So me as a female in this role, in this position, I want all the airmen to know: The door’s open, now you have to do what you need to do to get here. And don’t close it, don’t let it close; put your foot in the door," said Williams.

Williams has also been a Spanish teacher at Carthage High School for two decades. Williams became a teacher 20 years ago after seeing another woman of color teaching at her daughter’s school.

Years later, one of her daughters works on the base with her, and her other daughter is a Spanish teacher at Carthage as well.

Williams began her new role with the 174th at the beginning of February in a change of authority ceremony.